Across industries such as electronics, photovoltaics, glass, metallurgy, and chemicals, the treatment of fluoride-containing wastewater has long been a major environmental challenge. Traditional processes often suffer from low efficiency, excessive sludge generation, and high operating costs. Today, as environmental standards rise and treatment technologies evolve, a new generation of advanced defluorination agents has emerged- delivering higher efficiency, cleaner performance, and lower costs, reshaping the future of industrial fluoride wastewater treatment.

Fluoride in Focus - Understanding Its Forms to Control Its Impact

Fluorine is one of the most widely distributed elements in nature, existing in a variety of chemical forms across air, soil, and water.In the atmosphere, it mainly appears as hydrogen fluoride (HF) and silicon tetrafluoride (SiF₄) -tiny but reactive compounds that can travel long distances.In soils and water systems, fluorine takes on a much more complex role, typically present in water-soluble, exchangeable, and adsorbed states.

The water-soluble forms -such as F⁻, HF₂⁻, H₂F₃⁻, H₃F₄⁻, and AlF₆³⁻ -are particularly important, as they determine how fluorine migrates and transforms in the environment.Meanwhile, organic matter like humic acids can further bind with fluorine and metal ions, forming intricate compounds that make removal even more challenging.As a result, understanding the behavior of fluorine in the environment isn’t just scientific curiosity - it’s the foundation for developing smarter, cleaner, and more efficient defluorination technologies that safeguard both industry and the planet.

The Hidden Threat-Why Fluoride Pollution Can’t Be Ignored

01. A Double-Edged Element- Impact on Human Health

Fluoride is an essential trace element for the human body, found in almost all tissues -especially in teeth and bones.In proper amounts, it helps strengthen enamel and maintain bone health.However, when daily intake exceeds 4 mg, excessive fluoride can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, and long-term exposure may impair neurological and cardiovascular functions.

02. Disrupting Nature-Ecological Consequences of Fluoride Pollution

Fluoride contamination can severely damage plant life by destroying chlorophyll and key enzyme activities, inhibiting photosynthesis and blocking critical metabolic processes such as phosphorylase, enolase, and amylase functions.

03. Forever Chemicals-The Persistence of PFAS Pollution

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extremely stable compounds that resist degradation in nature.They can persist in water and soil for centuries, earning the name “forever chemicals.”Long-term exposure to high PFAS concentrations has been linked to cancer, thyroid disorders, and liver damage.

Where It Begins - Major Sources of Fluoride-Containing Wastewater

Sources of Fluoride - Containing Wastewater- Complex Origins, Greater Challenges

01. Traditional Industries

- Phosphate Chemical Industry: Produces large volumes of fluoride-laden wastewater during phosphate production.

- Hydrofluoric Acid Manufacturing: Wastewater is generated during raw material washing and exhaust gas scrubbing.

- Steelmaking: Fluoride-bearing residues and process water are discharged during smelting operations.

- Aluminum Electrolysis: Uses fluoride-based materials that lead to fluoride emissions in the electrolytic process.

02. Emerging Industries

- Semiconductor & Chip Manufacturing- Etching and equipment cleaning processes use hydrofluoric acid, resulting in wastewater with fluoride concentrations up to 150 mg/L, often mixed with boron and heavy metals.

- Photovoltaic (PV) Industry- Acid washing and wafer cutting produce fluoride-rich, strongly acidic wastewater.

- Lithium-Ion Battery Production- Fluoride compounds are introduced during graphite purification and other processing steps, generating fluoride-containing effluents.

Wastewater from these sectors often exhibits highly variable fluoride concentrations- ranging from 20 mg/L to over 2000 mg/L- along with strong acidity (pH < 3), high salinity, and the presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants.These conditions promote the formation of stable fluoride-metal complexes, which are difficult to remove using conventional treatment methods.

Yesterday’s Solutions - Why Conventional Defluorination Falls Short

Traditional defluorination technologies can be broadly classified into four categories: ion exchange resin method, calcium and iron salt precipitation, alumina adsorption, and nanofiltration / reverse osmosis.

01. Ion Exchange Resin Method

- Advantages: Simple operation and suitable for treating low-concentration fluoride wastewater.

- Disadvantages: High costs are associated with operation and resin regeneration. The regeneration process produces waste liquid that requires additional treatment. While initial fluoride removal is effective, the efficiency gradually declines over time.

02. Calcium and Iron Salt Precipitation

- Advantages: Simple process and suitable for high-concentration fluoride wastewater.

- Disadvantages: Generates large amounts of sludge, leading to high disposal costs. It is difficult to achieve effluent that meets discharge standards, with a typical fluoride removal limit of 8~10 mg/L.

03. Alumina Adsorption Method

- Advantages: Easy to operate and suitable for low-concentration fluoride wastewater.

- Disadvantages: Waste liquid generated during regeneration requires treatment, and scaling may occur during operation. The initial fluoride removal is effective, but performance gradually deteriorates over time.

04. Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis

- Advantages: Achieves excellent fluoride removal.

- Disadvantages: Only concentrates and transfers fluoride rather than eliminating it completely. The technology requires high capital and operational costs, and the membranes are relatively fragile.

Common Paths, Common Problems - The Reality of Conventional Defluorination

Currently, methods such as ion exchange resin, ultrafiltration, electrocoagulation, and electrodialysis are rarely applied in real-world projects due to their high costs and relatively low fluoride removal efficiency.The most widely used fluoride removal technologies, both domestically and internationally, can be grouped into two main categories: precipitation methods (including chemical and coagulation-based precipitation) and adsorption methods. These approaches offer practical, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for ensuring safe water quality.

01. Chemical Precipitation Method

Precipitation technologies are divided into chemical precipitation and coagulation-based precipitation. The chemical precipitation method uses lime or carbide slag as reagents, where calcium ions react with fluoride ions to form calcium fluoride precipitate. This method is highly effective for treating high-fluoride water (＞20 ppm), offering the advantages of simple principles, easy operation, low cost, and reliable fluoride removal.However, challenges remain in terms of large equipment requirements, slow sludge settling, difficult dewatering, and unstable effluent quality. The addition of calcium chloride or other coagulants is often needed to optimize performance.

02. Coagulation Precipitation Method

The coagulation precipitation method utilizes aluminum- or iron-based coagulants. These coagulants form positively charged colloidal particles that adsorb fluoride ions, promoting the aggregation of particles into larger flocs that settle out. This method is well-suited for treating low-fluoride water (＜20 ppm) and offers advantages such as low chemical dosage and high treatment capacity.Because it is primarily effective for low-fluoride water, achieving high-efficiency fluoride removal often requires integration with other treatment processes to optimize performance.

03. Adsorption Fluoride Removal Method

The adsorption method employs adsorbents such as activated alumina, bone char, zeolite, bentonite, activated carbon, hydroxyapatite, and zirconium-based rare earth compounds. These materials remove fluoride ions by leveraging their porous structure, large specific surface area, or functional groups that can bond with fluoride. This approach can reduce fluoride concentrations in wastewater to below 1 mg/L, meeting drinking water standards, and is particularly suitable for low-flow fluoride treatment projects.Advantages include dynamic adsorption in packed columns, simple operation, and stable fluoride removal performance. Limitations include short continuous operation time, complex regeneration procedures, and potential media clogging that can cause uneven water distribution and reduce service life.

The Breakthrough Solution - Advanced Defluorination Agents Redefine Efficiency

POLYMER Advanced Fluoride Removal Agent

Utilizing next-generation composite technology, this agent combines chemical precipitation with coagulation-settling processes and leverages the synergistic effects of strong adsorption and ion exchange. Itefficiently forms stable fluoride complexes and achieves rapid precipitation and separation. Key advantages include:

01. High Efficiency and Stable Compliance

Utilizing a “chemical precipitation + coagulation-settling” composite process with synergistic adsorption and ion exchange, fluoride concentrations in wastewater can be reduced from several thousand mg/L to below 0.5 mg/L within 10~15 minutes, well below the 10 mg/L discharge limit.

02. Reduced Sludge and Resource Efficiency

Compared to traditional lime methods, the use of this agent reduces sludge generation by 30~50% and increases settling speed by 40%, significantly lowering subsequent disposal costs and operational burden.

03. Outstanding Cost-Effectiveness

Tested dosage is only 0.12 kg per ton of water per 1000 mg F⁻, lower than the industry average of 0.18~0.22 kg.

04. Easy Operation and Wide Applicability

No facility modifications are required. Treatment completes within 10–15 minutes. Suitable for diverse wastewater sources including electronics, photovoltaics, and coal chemical industries. Broad pH adaptability (typically 5~10) reduces the need for frequent pH adjustments.

05. Tailored Solutions 

For special scenarios such as calcium-free (for membrane feed), hardness-free (to prevent clogging), chlorine-free (corrosion resistance), deep fluoride removal (<1 ppm), organic fluoride removal, and small-volume high-difficulty treatment, tailored fluoride removal solutions are available.

From Industry to Impact - Versatile Applications Across Multiple Sectors

01. Photovoltaic Pickling Wastewater (Fluoride > 2000 mg/L)

Challenge: Strongly acidic conditions cause equipment corrosion, and aluminum-fluoride complexes interfere with acid recovery.

Solution: Two-stage treatment using POLYMER liquid fluoride removal agent

Stage 1 - Rapid Adsorption: Fluoride concentration reduced from 4200 mg/L to 85 mg/L within 30

Stage 2 - Advanced Deep Treatment: Effluent fluoride ≤ 0.5 mg/L, combined with fine filtration

02. Semiconductor Fluoride-Containing Wastewater (Fluoride ≤ 0.1 mg/L)

Challenge: Trace fluoride corrodes chip circuits, and traditional resin methods incur high costs.

Solution: Utilize POLYMER low-residue solid fluoride removal agent integrated with membrane technology

Case Study (Shanghai Chip Plant):

Influent fluoride: 120 mg/L → Effluent fluoride: 0.07 mg/L

Treatment cost per ton of water: ¥1.2 (compared to ¥4.5 for resin method)

03. Coal Chemical High-Fluoride Wastewater (Oil-Containing / High Salinity)

Challenge: Oil films encapsulate active components, and calcium and magnesium ions interfere with fluoride removal.

Solution: Use No.7 oil- and hardness-resistant fluoride removal agent

Case Study (Henan Project):

Under water hardness of 680 mg/L, fluoride reduced from 35 mg/L to 0.4 mg/L

For wastewater with 8% oil content, fluoride removal efficiency remained >90%

 

POLYMER Deep Fluoride Removal Agent delivers a reliable, cost-effective solution for industrial fluoride wastewater. In an era of stricter environmental standards and rapid technological advancement, it empowers businesses to achieve green production, compliant discharge, and sustainable growth.